YA Friday Book Review: A Wicked Thing

A Wicked Thing

By Rhiannon Thomas (HarperTeen, February 24, 2015) 

IndieBound | Worldcat

Description from GoodReads:

Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept. 

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before.

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
I'm a big fan of YA retellings of fairy tales (I actually compiled a list of some of my favorites - here are the links to Part 1 and Part 2), so when I heard about A Wicked Thing, I was intrigued. I love the idea of stripping away the less realistic aspects of fairy tales. The happily-ever-after and love-at-first-sight parts are what I take issue with, not the actual fantasy part - ever since I started reading works from the Realist literary period, I've started to examine stories and look at how the characters act and if realism in the character's actions are sacrificed for a happier, easier (but often false) ending. I've always been a little wary of the Sleeping Beauty tale; in the original story, the princess awakes from a hundred year's worth of sleep to find some random prince kissing her and declaring that she is his true love, not to mention the fact that everyone she's ever known is dead. I always imagined that if I were in that situation, the prince would have definitely have (at least) a broken nose within the first three seconds of consciousness. Additionally, I don't exactly think I'd react very well to finding out that everyone I have ever known is dead. To a certain extent, I think every fairy tale is twisted and wrong, but (for fairly obvious reasons) I've never liked Sleeping Beauty - the fairy tale, the Disney movie, anything. That is, I've never really enjoyed any form of the classic fairy tale until I read A Wicked Thing.

While Aurora doesn't react quite as...violently as I would imagine I would in the situation, she certainly doesn't believe the nonsensical notions of 'happily-ever-after' she's being fed by the new royal family. In addition to suddenly being kissed by a prince and discovering the death of anyone she ever met, she finds out that her kingdom has gone to shambles and been conquered by several different kings over that past century - the proverbial icing on the cake of bad news. She's dazed and confused, and desperately trying to process her traumatic situation. Torn between different paths - marrying her designated prince, joining the revolution with an attractive young man, or escaping with the dashing, roguish prince of a distant kingdom - she must ultimately decide to do what's best for her, even if it means doing so alone. The ending doesn't necessarily fully give the reader closure - not in an obvious cliffhanger way, but without the cliché, saccharine happy ending that can feel false or cheap. I had a distinct feeling that while her story isn't over (confirmed by the GoodReads page, which shows that this is the first book in a series), this is simply where this part of her story ends. As odd as it may seem to call a fantasy book a realist work, the novel (and the main character) felt decidedly genuine throughout the novel.

A Wicked Thing is a fresh and honest take on the story of Sleeping Beauty, a great pick for those who love books with strong heroines or enjoy retellings of classic fairy tales. I'm definitely excited for where the series is going and will eagerly await the release of the next novel. 

Carolyn is a high school junior who stops by on Fridays to share about books she's reading and book related fun stuff. You can follow her on twitter: @yalitfriday 

Jack at the Helm (The Berenson Schemes #3) - Interview with author Lisa Doan and Giveaway

Jack At The Helm (The Berenson Schemes #3) by Lisa Doan (Lerner Publishers, 2015)

Kid Lit Frenzy is excited to welcome Lisa Doan to the blog. After reading her bio on her blog, I knew that an interview with her would be fun just like the Berenson Scheme books.  

Alyson – Thank you so much for inviting me!

Lisa , I noticed that you have traveled a lot. Is there a country or part of the world that you would still like to get to and why? 

So many places! Bhutan, Fiji, Costa Rica, Panama, China . . . the list goes on. But I really need to go to Ireland. I am a dual citizen (US/Ireland) and have not gotten there! (Blame my failure to win the lottery or otherwise come upon some extra money—Ireland is not as cheap as the usual places I go.) My grandmother emigrated to the U.S. from county Leitrim, and so I was eligible for citizenship through descent. I will go there, the question is—will I come back?

How has all your travel experiences and various jobs helped you in writing The Berenson Schemes series? And do you see more of yourself in Jack or his irresponsible parents? 

I have been a vagabond and jack-of-all trades, and this can only be helpful in writing. While it’s true that you can write about something you know nothing about by researching it, real life experience allows you to know things you would never thought of researching because you didn’t know they existed. Real life experience gives you a level of detail that Google can’t deliver. The first Berenson book, Jack the Castaway, is based on Roatán, a Caribbean island I lived on for eight years. I know what the air smells like. That the pineapple soda tastes like bubblegum. That carrying a machete around is no more alarming than a grocery bag. That the sweet smell of wood smoke is actually mosquito coils. I know how the ocean changes—gray waves crashing over the reef during a northern storm and the sea as still and glassy as a swimming pool in summer. Research can only go so far in distilling a sense of place.

And now for the bad news—sadly, I am much more Richard and Claire than Jack. I look at Jack and his parents as having wildly different risk tolerance temperatures—Jack runs cold and they run hot. I run on the hot side—for example, at one point I was a Vice President of real estate finance in New York City . . . and then quit to teach scuba in the Caribbean. Not exactly careful!

When I think of the Berenson Schemes series, I think of early middle grade, especially 3rd and 4th graders. It is not always easy to write for this age group. Did you have a specific age group in mind when you started writing or did you just happen to find that you enjoyed writing for them?

I never had a specific age group in mind. It seems to me that you think up a story and it goes where it goes and then a publisher tells you who it’s for. In general, I do naturally write in middle grade territory—it feels so full of possibilities. Middle grader’s minds are wide open and they’ll go to any interesting place. I don’t feel a pull to write a dystopian YA, or about drugs and sex, or anything relentlessly dark—that’s just not my thing. I sometimes think it’s too bad it’s not my thing, as dark seems to get more respect than light. But, I don’t think you can really choose what you write—it’s an expression of personality and I prefer to walk on the sunny side of the street most of the time.

I saw on your website that you are a Doctor Who fan. I frequently wish for my own TARDIS. If you had one (including the Time Lord) what time period or place would you go to first?

I would start in medieval England and see if I couldn’t do something about Henry the Eighth. He no doubt suffered a traumatic brain injury from that jousting accident, and became a monster afterwards. I would keep him off that horse, or at least tell Anne Boleyn to make a run for it. Then I would use 1066 and All That, possibly the best history book ever written, to move backwards and forward through English history. Then I would end in London in the Victorian Era and somehow manage to meet Charles Dickens. Once I had him cornered, I would ask him to seriously rethink the end of The Old Curiosity Shop. (I was outraged when Nell died.) Mr. Dickens should not be surprised to see me, as he is well-acquainted with the Doctor.

My final stop would be right here in Pennsylvania to have a word with some of my ancestors, The Doan Gang. They were Tory outlaws and spies during the American Revolution, and were so naughty that it is said that you should “Never sneak up on a Doan dead or alive.” I would insist they stop robbing tax collectors and spying for the British, and also find out where they buried all the money they stole.

Of course, the Doctor would be furious with my meddling. I suppose that’s why he’s never come to pick me up.

From reading your bio, I can't imagine you ever having a stay-cation, but I would be curious to discover what 5 things you would do if you did the touristy thing in your current home town?

For all my traveling, I am not at all against staycations! I live in West Chester, Pennsylvania, so I would start with a visit to Valley Forge National Park and have a peek into the old cabins to see what life was like for a soldier during the Revolutionary War. Then, on to the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville—the original site for the famous “running out of the theater scene” in the 1950s classic movie, The Blob. The Colonial looks much as it did in the 50s and they re-enact the theater run-out scene every year. Third, I would stop for lunch at The Eagle Tavern for Fish ‘n Chips. The tavern has been in business since the 1700s and my naughty ancestors The Doan Brothers used to drink there. In the afternoon, I would rent a catamaran and sail around the lake at Marsh Creek State Park. Finally, I would stop for a beer at Ryan’s Pub—a small Irish tavern in the heart of West Chester Borough.

Some authors love to write from home in a special place in the house, others have an office they go to, and others like the local coffee shop. Do you have a preference for where you write? And can we get a glimpse of the space or the view from there? 

In the winter, I write at home. Some writers use a music soundtrack as a backdrop to writing—I use lights. The lights around the window are cheery and my tiny fake fireplace (mainly it’s a lamp, shaped to look like a woodstove) looks almost real if you don’t stare directly at it. In warm weather, I go to the park. I bring a lot of snacks and my trusty NEO – a genius little tool for writing first drafts.

An image of the trusty Neo

What was the first book that turned you into a reader and why?

I received Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Little Princess for Christmas one year—it was my first big book. I read it, then I read it again, and again, and again. Finally, my mom asked me if I had read it and I told her I had—ten times already. She said that wasn’t necessary, we could get another book. I said no, because I liked the book I had. I was enthralled with Ram Dass and the makeover of Sara and Becky’s attic.

What is your favorite indie bookstore and where is it located? 

The Chester County Book Company! It’s right down the road and has a much bigger children’s section than your usual chain store.

About Lisa Doan:
Lisa Doan is the author of The Berenson Schemes series – Jack the Castaway, Jack and the Wild Life and Jack at the Helm. She received a master’s degree in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her extensive travel in Africa and Asia and eight years spent living in the Caribbean were the basis for the series’ international settings. She has hatched her share of harebrained schemes, including backpacking alone from Morocco to Kenya, hitchhiking across the Sahara with Nigerian car dealers, sauntering off on an ill-advised, one-person walking safari, and opening a restaurant with no actual restaurant experience. Her occupations have included master scuba diving instructor, New York City headhunter, owner-chef of a “sort of Chinese-like” restaurant, television show set medic, and deputy prothonotary of a county court. Visit the author and download free, CCSS-aligned curriculum guides at lisadoan.org.

Check out the other stops on the blog tour:

Mon, Mar 2     Just a Little Creativity

Tues, Mar 3    The OWL for YA

Wed, Mar 4    Once Upon a Story

Thurs, Mar 5   Kid Lit Frenzy 

Fri, Mar 6     Children's Book Review

Mon, Mar 9   The Compulsive Reader

Tues, Mar 10  Books Unbound

Wed, Mar 11   Geo Librarian

Thurs, Mar 12  The Late Bloomer's Book Blog

Fri, Mar 13     Sharpread
                      The Hiding Spot

Giveaway: 
One lucky winner will win all three Berenson Schemes books: JACK THE CASTAWAY, JACK AND THE WILDLIFE, and the newest release, JACK AT THE HELM. (U.S. addresses only.) Please complete the rafflecopter below.

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Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: March New Releases

As part of the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge, I do my best to round-up as many new quality nonfiction books for children and share them with readers of this blog.  Some months, I miss the release of books and add them to the next month's post. Though I have not read all of these titles yet, I will be on the lookout for them.  Hope this is a helpful resource for you, since I know that this is an extremely useful resource for me. ~ Happy Reading!

Links to previous 2015 new release posts: January | February

Here are the new releases coming out this month. So many interesting ones this month:

March 1, 2015

Bug Detective by Maggie Li (Sterling Children's Books) 

How to Spy on a Shark by Laurie Haskins Houran; Illustrated by Francisca Marquez (Albert Whitman)

Noisy Bird Sing-Along by  John Himmelman (Dawn Publications)

Over On a Mountain: Somewhere in the World by Marianne Berkes; Illustrated by Jill Dubin (Dawn Publications)

The Queen's Shadow: A Story About How Animals See by Cybéle Young

The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Bicycle by Jude Isabella; Illustrated by Simone Shin (Kids Can Press)

A Rock Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas; Illustrated by Violeta Dabija (Millbrook Press)

March 3, 2015

Egg: Nature's Perfect Package by Robin Page and Steve Jenkins (HMH Books for Young Readers)

Flowers are Calling by Rita Gray; Illustrated by Kenard Pak (HMH Books for Young Readers)

You Nest Here With Me by Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple; Illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Boyds Mills Press)

March 10, 2015

Bird & Diz by Gary Golio; Illustrated by Ed Young (Candlewick Press)

I, Fly: The Buzz About Flies and How Awesome They Are by Bridget Heos; Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas (Henry Holt, & Co.)

Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliff; Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno (Candlewick Press)

Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower by Greg Pizzoli (Viking Books for Young Readers)

March 17, 2015

In Mary's Garden by Tina Kugler and Carson Kugler (HMH Books for Young Readers)

March 24, 2015 

Orangutankas: A Story in Poems by Margarita Engle; Illustrated by Renee Kurilla (Henry Holt & Co.) 

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews:

Countdown Zero Blog Tour: Interview with Chris Rylander & Giveaway

Kid Lit Frenzy is excited to welcome author, Chris Rylander to the blog. Four years ago when THE FOURTH STALL came out, Chris chatted with us about his first novel and writing and more. You can check out the interview here.  I love Chris's books and recommend them often so I am glad to be able to share a little bit about his newest book COUNTDOWN ZERO. 

The Codename Conspiracy is your 2nd series. How did writing (if at all) THE FOURTH STALL series prepare you for writing this series?

This is a great question, but I'm not sure that I can provide an equally great answer.  The truth is, I never feel remotely prepared to write anything.  Each new book/series feels like I'm playing a brand new sport for the very first time.  It's scary, tiring, confusing, fun, and exciting all at once.

Carson is the king of pranks. Is writing pranks as fun as it seems it would be? Any pranks that you played as a child (or teen or adult) that would be worthy of Carson?
 
Haha, it's actually a lot less fun writing pranks than actually executing them probably would be.  Brainstorming pranks that are all at once somewhat original, funny, not too mean-spirited, but still pretty mischievous, is certainly not easy.  At least, it wasn't for me.  But then again, I am probably the last person who would ever pull a high stakes crazy prank like Carson.  (Which, I think likely answers the second part of the question.)

Is there a favorite quote or scene in COUNTDOWN ZERO that you can share?
 
I think my favorite scene is what happens once Carson is inside the secret.  The discussion he has with the other characters, the Spanish speaking gun, all of those things and more, I really like all combined together within a 50 page span.  (That answer was intentionally vague to hopefully not give away too much.)

Where do you like to write? Do you have any special writing routines? And can we get the view from where you work?
 
It seems to change a lot.  But right now, my writing spot is sitting at my dining room table.   Which sort of annoys my wife - you know, the whole turning our dining room into my messy, disorganized office strewn about with books and papers constantly.  I have no real routines, except that coffee or tea is usually involved.  Lots of it.  Here's one version of what I sometimes see from where I sit...

What is the funniest letter/email/question that you have received from a kid? Or any favorite emails/letters?

I once received a well-written three page rant on how all of the cheap shots that Mac and Vince take at the Yankees during the Fourth Stall series are completely unfair and incorrect.  It was really funny, intelligent, passionate, and convincing... I mean, deep down we all know that kid's argument is ultimately wrong, but he did a nice job stating his case just the same.  I also hide a ton of references to my favorite bands and movies and books in my own books and I love getting emails from people pointing out that they noticed.  (It doesn't happen very often... it's usually really obscure stuff - which is why it's so fun when someone notices.)

Do you have a favorite Indie Bookstore (or two) and if so, which one(s) and where?
 
My absolute favorite was this placed called BBGB in Richmond, VA.  The women who own it are incredible and the store could not have had a better, hand-picked selection of books.  I loved it, and if you're ever in Virginia it's worth stopping in.  Also, and this is certainly no secret, but Powell's in downtown Portland is always a fun visit.

COUNTDOWN ZERO by Chris Rylander:

There are people in this world who live secret lives. There are people who fight the evil that lurks in the shadows so that the rest of us can live free from tyranny and fear. There are people—perhaps the person who is sitting across from you on the bus or waiting tables at your favorite restaurant—who put it all on the line for us, every day, whose names we’ll never know.

None of these people is Carson Fender.

At least, not since he was let go by the secret agency that enlisted his services to help foil a nefarious plot perpetrated by one of their former agents. Carson is back to hanging out with his friends, pulling pranks, and not having to lie to everyone about how he’s spending his days. And that’s for the best. Isn’t it?

 Of course, this was all before a note showed up in his school lunch, informing him that Agent Nineteen has three days left to live, and that there might still be someone inside the Agency working against them. Carson has always been able to rely on his friends—but what happens when there’s no one left to trust?

Author Bio: 
Chris Rylander is the author of the Fourth Stall Saga and the Codename Conspiracy series.  A fan of brown shipping boxes turned on their sides, dance-offs to win a girl's heart, and rice, he lives in Chicago.  You can visit him online at www.chrisrylander.com.

Find Chris on Twitter and his website.

For all of the stops on the blog tour, please click here.  Chris will be at Paige in Training tomorrow (Wednesday, March 4, 2015).

For more information about Walden Pond Press, check out the links below:

Twitter | Facebook |  Pinterest |  Blog  

To enter to win a copy of COUNTDOWN ZERO by Chris Rylander, please complete the rafflecopter below. Participants must be 13 years old or older and have a U.S. mailing address to enter.

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Author Visit with Bob Shea and Lane Smith

Four months ago, I created a short animoto video with pictures of a window display from Once Upon a Time, an indie bookstore in Montrose (CA).  The store owner, Maureen Palacios, wanted to enter a contest being sponsored by Macmillan Publishers to win a store visit from author/illustrators Bob Shea and Lane Smith. Part of the requirements was to create a window display for the book, Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads. One of the staff created the window to match the book, and I had about 7 pictures of the window display, but no idea of how I would create something that might actually win the contest.  Several weeks later, we learned that the video did indeed win and Bob and Lane would be coming out to California for not only a store visit but a school visit.  

Here is the video I created using animoto:

On Friday, February 27th, Hamilton Elementary School hosted Bob Shea and Lane Smith for an author visit. It was also the day that they were celebrating Read Across America. 

If you haven't read, Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads, I would strongly encourage you to find a copy and read it.

Bob setting up his presentation before the kids arrived.

There were 300 excited 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders in the audience. 

Bob and Lane read Kid Sheriff to the audience and alternated characters and voices. It was a lot of fun.

Bob also shared with students his upcoming book, Ballet Cat The Totally Secret Secret.

Bob and Lane took turns sketching pictures for the students.

Lane sketched out the Stinky Cheese Man for young fans.

There were many enthusiastic questions from the audience. 

Principal Frances Weissenberger and Librarian Wayne Yorke have a photo op with Bob and Lane.

Some Pasadena Police Officers were on hand to read in classes and stopped by to pick up some books for kids and grandkids.  

Pasadena Unified School District Board Member Dr. Elizabeth Pomeroy was also there to read in a classroom and stopped by to meet Bob and Lane.

On Saturday morning, Once Upon a Time hosted a storytime with Bob and Lane. 

Judy recreated her winning window display.

Books were on display and available for purchase. 

Children's Illustrator Vincent X. Kirsch stopped in to say hi to Bob and Lane. 

2015 Caldecott Winner, Dan Santat came by with his two boys and posed for a picture.

Lots and lots of books were signed.

We gathered some of the local children's illustrators for a picture with Bob and Lane. 

At the end, the employees from Once Upon a Time got in for some picture action too.

Thank you Macmillan for this wonderful opportunity and thank you Bob Shea and Lane Smith for sharing your books, talent and humor with us.